ChatGPT vs Claude: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Both have a useful free plan and a main paid plan for daily work. ChatGPT has the broader toolset — images, deep research, agent mode and US-only features like Finances and Health — and a cheaper Go step that may show ads. Claude Pro is the focused choice for writing, analysis and coding, with Claude Code included and a discounted yearly option.
Option A
$20.00/moPlus
Official price before tax: $20.00
Price checked
Also has a free plan: Free
ChatGPT price and plans
Option B
We compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | ChatGPT | Claude AI |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, unlimited everyday chats | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Go (may include ads) | Pro |
| Coding tool | Codex | Claude Code |
| Agent mode | Plus 40, Pro 400 a month | Not listed |
| Yearly billing | Monthly plans | Pro, billed up front |
ChatGPT and Claude are the two general AI assistants most US users compare first. The free tiers overlap a lot; the differences show up in what the paid plans add and how limits work.
If you don’t want to read further
Images, research reports, an agent and the cheapest paid step — ChatGPT. Long documents, careful writing and coding with Claude Code, or yearly billing — Claude.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
How do limits work?
ChatGPT
Unlimited everyday text chats on Free and Go; tools such as uploads, images, voice and deep research have their own limits.
Claude AI
No fixed number: limits reset every five hours, and paid plans also have a weekly limit.
Heavy chatters hit ChatGPT’s tool limits; long Claude sessions hit the five-hour window.
Cheapest paid step?
ChatGPT
Go — more tools than Free, but it may include ads.
Claude AI
Pro — no lower paid tier.
On a tight budget, ChatGPT Go; for an ad-free first step, Claude Pro or ChatGPT Plus.
Coding?
ChatGPT
Codex, expanded on Plus; longer sessions on Pro.
Claude AI
Claude Code included on Pro and Max.
Developers who live in the terminal often choose Claude.
Images and agents?
ChatGPT
Image creation on every plan; agent mode on Plus (40 a month) and Pro (400).
Claude AI
Not the focus of the plans.
For images and multi-step web tasks, ChatGPT.
Yearly billing?
ChatGPT
Monthly plans.
Claude AI
Pro can be billed yearly up front at a discount.
If you’re sure for a year, Claude Pro is cheaper per month.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
A real free plan
Both let you chat, search the web and upload files without paying.
Refunds are the exception
Both say payments are generally non-refundable; app-store purchases are refunded by Apple or Google.
API billed separately
Neither consumer plan includes API usage.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You want images, research reports and an agent | ChatGPT Plus | Agent mode includes 40 messages a month. |
| You write long documents or code daily | Claude Pro | Claude Code is included. |
| You want the cheapest paid plan | ChatGPT Go | Accept possible ads. |
| You use AI only now and then | Either free plan | Upgrade when a limit gets in the way. |
- ChatGPT Free and Go may show ads in the US; Plus and Claude don’t list ads.
- ChatGPT refunds an unused subscription only if you ask within seven days.
- Claude prices are shown without tax; expect sales tax with ChatGPT too.
- Subscribe in one place — web and app-store subscriptions are billed separately.
Where the facts come from
Sources: chatgpt.com/pricing and the OpenAI Help Center; claude.com/pricing and the Claude Help Center — checked from the US on October 12–13, 2026. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: ChatGPT or Claude AI
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “AI subscriptions” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — clear usage limits: Claude AI Pro
ChatGPT Plus: limits are mentioned, but without numbers (3,0/5) · Claude AI Pro: specific limits are published (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — app rating: ChatGPT Plus
ChatGPT Plus: 4,8 out of 5 (4,8/5) · Claude AI Pro: 4,7 out of 5 (4,7/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: